How to change a consumer category irreversibly | Mark Tsirekas (Zoe, Schibsted, Ebay)

#30: Ever wondered what it's like to be in the midst of clashing marketing, sales and product departments? Jennifer Montague, with her wealth of experience across these fields, joins me to discuss the unsightly silos that can form and how it's like a game of hot potato nobody wants to play. We dive deep into the heart of these divisions and brainstorm strategies to dismantle these barriers to refocus on what really matters – the customer. From developing an acquisition workforce that truly represents each department to understanding the nuances of customer journeys, our conversation is a treasure trove of insights. As our conversation progresses, we shift gears to discuss fostering growth and collaboration. We discover together the power of an intriguing term - NetNew MRR, and how it can be harnessed to attract customers by creating a tiering system. Jennifer shares her perspective on how product teams can gauge the impact of their work on the company's overall success. We also touch upon the art of communicating missed opportunities to those in power. As we near the end, we address the elephant in the room – the fear of trying and failing. We share our experiences and lessons from mistakes we've made, emphasizing on the importance of sharing these stories with others. We talk about the global phenomenon - Fuckup Nights, as a platform to admit mistakes and grow from them. As we wrap up our enlightening conversation, Jennifer and I exchange our favorite books and meals, and I throw in a recommendation for a great spot to get Korean food in Copenhagen. Our conversation is a journey of exploration and growth, and we invite you to join us in breaking down the silos that exist in any organization.Where to find JenniferLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermontague/Jen's podcast: Marketing CornerWhere to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:Show notes and highlights(0:00:04) - Breaking Down Silos Between Departments(0:08:38) - Improving Collaboration Between Marketing and Sales(0:15:58) - Strategies for Growth and Collaboration(0:21:00) - Product Led Growth and IoT Expansion(0:33:37) - Trying, Failing, and Sharing's Power(0:38:35) - Career Advice and Deserted Island Choices───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected]

#29: How do you measure your growth as a product manager and accelerate your career? Join me and my guest, James Routledge, VP Product at Converge, as we share our insights and experiences in product management, focusing on the importance of execution and learning rates. James's background in engineering, venture capital, and entrepreneurship has shaped his unique perspectives on product management and career growth.We also discuss the differences between product management in Europe and the US, diving into aspects such as culture, history, and varying approaches to success and failure. James highlights the significance of collaboration between product managers and engineers, offering valuable advice on how European product managers can maximize value by focusing on the rate of execution and learning. Together, we explore the importance of creating safe spaces for product leaders to take meaningful risks, share their failures, and grow from their experiences.In our conversation, we uncover strategies and practices for continuous learning and career acceleration. Reflecting on his own journey, James emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, seeking feedback from trusted sources, and taking calculated risks. Where to find JamesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesroutledge/Website: Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:Show notes and highlights(00:31) Performance and Intolerance in Product Management (41 Seconds)(03:05) Product Management in Europe vs. US (65 Seconds)(07:39) US Entrepreneurial Bias for Action (66 Seconds)(12:33) US vs European Workplace Cultures (72 Seconds)(20:26) Product Management Metrics and Growth (61 Seconds)(24:57) Developing a Goal Setting Framework (94 Seconds)(29:00) Measuring Success With Metrics and Movement (56 Seconds)(32:11) Customer Focus in Construction Industry (104 Seconds)───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected]

#28: In this insightful episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Petra Wille, an independent product leadership coach and author of Strong Product People. We discuss the benefits and importance of creating a product community of practice, which can help product leads free up time and focus on people development. Listen in as Petra shares her research on this topic, including interviews and a survey of over 100 people, and learn how such communities can help product people experience mastery, share best practices, and support onboarding.We also explore the significance of psychological safety in product teams and the role of vulnerability in strong leadership. Petra explains how to encourage reflection and continuous learning in teams, even when budgets are limited, and the importance of contributing to the larger product community. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into creating an environment where everyone can feel safe and secure, allowing for diversity and growth in the workplace.Finally, we discuss the challenges of transitioning from individual contributor to product leader and the essential human skills needed for a successful transition. Petra shares her advice on giving feedback, creating clarity of thought, and mastering the art of non-violent communication. Tune in to learn more about the components of effective product leadership and how to foster a strong product culture through feedback and communication.Where to find PetraLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-wille-b8b1329/Website: https://www.petra-wille.com/Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:Joff RedfernShow notes and highlights(0:00:00) Building Successful Product Communities of Practice(0:11:35) Learning, Contribution, and Psychological Safety(0:15:24) Product Leadership and Psychological Safety(0:26:39) Leadership Skills(0:31:45) Feedback for Strong Product Cultures(0:43:33) Recommendations, Accelerators, and Product at Heart───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected]

#27: In this episode, Axel chats with fellow product coaches Martin Christensen and Marcus Castenfors, co-authors of Holistic Product Discovery, a book that provides a structured framework for product discovery. And they caution against relying on a recipe for success – we can't all be Gordon Ramsay, after all.So, imagine you're the Karate Kid, and Mr. Miyagi is teaching you how to paint the fence. You might not understand it at first, but eventually, you'll become a karate master. Or, in this case, a product management master. Just don't wax on, wax off too hard.Where to find Marcus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcastenfors/Website: https://www.holisticproductdiscovery.com/Where to find Martin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinuxchristensen/Website: https://www.holisticproductdiscovery.com/Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:Shu Ha Ri is a Japanese martial art concept that is used to describe the stages of learning on the path to mastery.Show notes and highlights(02:08) The authors' respective backgrounds(04:36) The reality of the PM craft(06:20) Feedback from readers of Holistic Product Discovery(08:33) Not a perfect recipe(09:00) People love a template(11:45) Shu Ha Ri(13:47) Do you know about this Karate Kid?(18:19) 6 pages of feedback from Marty Cagan(22:09) If you had to take one thing from this book(26:56) Efficiency & effectiveness in the era of profitability(32:39) The value behind discovery(39:38) Martin's & Marcus' treasure chests───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected]

#26: PLG? What's The Fuss?Axel is back after a break with a refreshing conversation with Leah Tharin, a product leader and influencer who's regularly publishing impactful content on Product-Led Growth (PLG). In this episode, Leah shares her view on Product-Led Growth, what it means, what it looks like when it's done well and the traps you'll want to avoid when rolling out a PLG playbook.Where to find LeahLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahtharin/Website: https://www.leahtharin.com/Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:Show notes and highlights(02:03) Leah's background(03:03) Product-Led Growth factions(06:20) Everybody thinks they're product-centric(08:19) The problem with existing approaches(12:22) Thought leadership on PLG(19:41) How companies win at PLG(20:30) End-to-end product experience, a new playground(25:24) Metrics and goal-setting in PLG(26:22) Identifying success moments and value signals(31:05) The missing piece(35:05) PLG won't save you on its own(36:53) Showing value ASAP(46:15) Leah's Treasure Chest───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected]

#25: Hubert Palan is Founder and CEO of Productboard, a product management system that enables teams to inform their decision-making based on customer insights. Productboard was founded 8 years ago and now counts 400 employees and 6000 clients.In this episode, Axel dives into Hubert's 8-year journey at Productboard to learn about how product as a function has evolved, what great product teams have in common and how to win in the current economic context.Where to find HubertLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hubertpalan/Website: https://www.productboard.com/blogWhere to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:Steve Blank at UC BerkeleyMastery by Robert GreeneProduct Makers Summit by ProductboardProductboard events including roadtrips (Paris, Amsterdam, other locations).Show notes and highlights(01:30) Hubert's background(02:47) How has Hubert's role changed over the last 8 years(05:30) Differences in product maturity across geographies(08:45) Is the maturity gap in PM closing between the US and EU(09:48) Evolution and importance of the PM function(12:42) The importance of execution(15:27) What does product management done right look like(20:10) 2 dimensions of product performance(26:16) How to win in the current economic context(32:19) Hubert's Treasure Chest───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected] in this episode:Elevate your product careerDo you feel stuck, not knowing how to tackle a problem? Are you looking for a solution to help your team members grow in their craft? Either way, check out www.panash.io Panash works with product leaders to bring expert insights and proven frameworks you can use to truly deliver impact in your role. Companies like Atlassian, Contentsquare and Mirakl ALL choose Panash to provide the right level of training and coaching to their product teams, so they can perform at their best. Whether you’re a product leader or an individual contributor: head to www.panash.io, book a seat to one of our many programs and raise your product game today. Check out https://www.panash.io. Panash

#24: In this episode, Axel has a conversation with Jean Liu, who's currently VP Product at Lyst, the world's largest online fashion catalogue. Jean is a trained neuroscientist and held the role of Head of Machine Learning Services at the BBC, driving the efforts behind content personalisation. Jean shares her technique about building trust and how to move into a leadership role successfully. She talks about concrete techniques, behaviours and rituals that product leaders should consider as they start a new role.Where to find JeanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanliu1/Medium: https://medium.com/@portablebrain Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:Leadership Summit by The PipelineThe First 90 Days by Michael D. WatkinsInspired by Marty CaganThe Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver SacksShow notes and highlights(01:42) Jean's background(05:20) Planning your own onboarding as a product leader(13:50) Creating safety for the team(16:36) Positioning your first meetings to get to know your team(19:02) Learnings from Jean's trust-building technique(21:06) How to manage expectations and not overpromise(24:58) Enabling your leadership team(28:56) What is a user manual for a team member(34:46) Tips in planning an off-site for your team(40:38) Jean's Treasure Chest───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected]

#23: For over two decades Itamar Gilad held senior product management and engineering roles at Google, Microsoft and a number of startups. At Google, Itamar led parts of Gmail and was the head of Gmail’s growth team. Axel sits down with Itamar to discuss some of the frameworks he's been crafting through his journey and how they can help fellow Product Managers improve their practice.We specifically dive into how frameworks can help PMs boost their confidence based on evidence and clear communication.Where to find ItamarLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamargilad/Website: https://itamargilad.com/Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:The Lean Startup by Eric RiesInspired by Marty CaganEmpowered by Marty Cagan with Chris JonesLean Enterprise by Jez Humble et al.Lean Analytics by Alistair CrollRunning Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works by Ash MauryaValue proposition canvas by StrategyzerAssumption Mapping by David J. BlandItamar's resourcesShow notes and highlights(01:35) Itamar's background(03:32) How does the MUST Framework help(12:42) Biggest traps people fall into when crafting strategy(18:04) Deferring the point of commitment(22:52) GIST: a framework to bridge strategy and execution(35:23) Using frameworks to boost confidence(44:26) Itamar's Treasure Chest───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected] in this episode:Elevate your product careerDo you feel stuck, not knowing how to tackle a problem? Are you looking for a solution to help your team members grow in their craft? Either way, check out www.panash.io Panash works with product...

#22: Georgie Smallwood is Chief Product Officer at TIER and has a lot of experience building successful businesses. In this episode, Georgie and Axel dive into the reality of being an exec in a tech company, what it takes to steer an organisation in the current economic context, and the many learnings Georgie draws from her career.Where to find GeorgieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georginasmallwood/Georgie's Medium: https://georgiesmallwood.medium.com/Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episode:FYI (For Your Improvement) by Korn FerryWhen They Win, You Win: Being a Great Manager Is Simpler Than You Think by Russ LarawaySarah J. MaasA Discovery of Witches by Deborah HarknessAuxilia - a LinkedIn Group for women in TechShow notes and highlights(02:00) Georgie's background(07:10) About TIER(10:50) Running the core element of a company(11:35) Importance of optionality in revenue streams(12:26) Commercial acumen is a must-have skill for PMs(14:37) PMs have to be experts in something(16:03) How to ensure the team is learning and growing(19:23) Steering an organisation in the current economic context(22:56) How to approach layoffs (24:04) Opportunities arising from the downturn(29:08) The power of saying YES(30:47) Adding depth to your systems thinking(33:10) CPO: a people-first role(35:53) Not leaving a company can pay off(37:30) Nothing is true unless it is writing(38:14) The intensity of the CPO role (41:53) The best thing Georgie did for her career(43:46) Leadership roles can be lonely(48:12) Everything is connected(50:49) Georgie's Treasure Chest───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected]

#21: In this episode, Axel sits down with Mark Tsirekas - VP Product @ Zoe, a scientifically advanced nutrition program - and talk about what's involved in building a consumer product while irreversibly changing a category.We dive into the challenges of setting up a product practice with empowered, autonomous teams. Mark also talks about how the team at Zoe has a singular approach to finding which problems they'll tackle and how they execute to deliver the best experience in addressing that problem.Where to find MarkLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsirekas/Website: https://mtsireud.com/Where to find AxelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelsooriah/About PanashWe provide training and coaching programs to help product professionals unlock their true potential and become high performers.You can learn more about our programs here: https://www.panash.io/Our blog contains articles and free resources on key topics for product managers and leaders.Check it out here: https://collection.panash.io/Referenced in this episodeModels of Opportunity: How Entrepreneurs Design Firms to Achieve the UnexpectedThe Business Model Book by dam J. Bock & Gerard GeorgeZero to One by Peter ThielHackers and Painters by Paul GrahamY Combinator BlogMeditations by Marcus AureliusThe Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-ExupéryShow notes and highlights(01:52) Mark's background(04:32) What problem is Zoe solving(06:30) How is Zoe doing things differently(07:47) How the team at Zoe is organised to solve this problem(11:52) What are the product frameworks at play(14:17) The role of autonomy for the product team(14:48) Fundamentals and principles driving the product team(16:11) User outcomes first, business impact will follow(17:58) How can the product work change a whole industry(21:47) Building your product practice(25:48) We're not doing MVPs!(30:42) How are the teams enabled in bringing about change(35:16) Mark's Treasure Chest───For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please reach out to [email protected] in this episode:Elevate your product careerDo you feel stuck, not knowing how to tackle a problem? Are you looking for a solution to help your team members grow in